Russell Westbrook is stepping away from the NBA.
The 2017 Most Valuable Player, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday that he is retiring after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 seasons and seven teams and boasts the most triple-doubles (209) in league history.
Where does Westbrook rank among the all-time greats? What are the top moments from a legendary yet polarizing career? ESPN NBA insiders Ben Golliver, Zach Kram, Anthony Slater, André Snellings and Ohm Youngmisuk examine Russ' explosive and relentless style, his partnership with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder and whether Westbrook's single-season triple-double record will ever fall.
What is Westbrook's lasting NBA legacy?
Westbrook's NBA legacy is best summed up by a 2016 sneaker commercial that included the famous lyrics, "Now I do what I want." The spot was released just months after Kevin Durant's 2016 departure from the Thunder, which left Westbrook as the team's lone remaining superstar.
Westbrook was a fearless and unbelievably self-confident player, and he immediately embraced the new opportunities that came with Durant's franchise-changing exit.